Second-placed Toshiba Brave Lupus and play-off chasing Kobe Steelers produced the game of the season at a sun-soaked Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium on Sunday.
Once-beaten Toshiba, who were missing their leading man Richie Mo'unga who is in New Zealand after his father passed away on Friday, played out a 40-40 draw with Kobe who are locked in a battle for the fourth play-off spot with Yokohama Canon Eagles.
Toshiba made a perfect start after centre Rob Thompson, who went through the rugby hotbed of Palmerston North High School in New Zealand, raced through the Kobe defence and showed his attacking quality before playing in his Japan-qualified midfield partner Nicholas McCurran for the opening score.
Japan’s prolific winger Jone Naikabura, whose a graduate of Setsunan University in Osaka, electrified the 11,000-strong crowd as he jinked and stepped his way into space before showcasing his pace and crossing for his sixth try of the campaign and first in 2024.
Former Ospreys utility back Michael Collins, who qualified for Wales through his Llanelli-born grandfather but surprisingly never represented the 2023 World Cup quarter-finalists, has found starts hard to come by for his star-laden side but showed his ability today at full-back.
The former Scarlets man (below) scored his first try of the season after 19 minutes and Mo'unga’s capable stand-in Takuro Matsunaga added the extra two points to put the hosts 19-0 up after 20 minutes.
Former Japan international Timothy Lafaele registered Kobe on the scoreboard and, in doing so, sparked his team into life.
Flanker Amanaki Saumaki, who has one cap for the Brave Blossoms, crossed for Kobe’s second try and division one’s top points scorer Bryn Gatland, the son of Wales head coach Warren Gatland, duly slotted his second conversion of the game.
Collins grabbed his second of the game before teammate and in-form left wing Yuto Mori followed up with his first try of the game with Matsunaga converting both tries.
Toshiba led 33-14 at the break and the visitors desperately needed to find a route back into the game and score first in the second stanza.
Kobe’s right wing Rakuhei Yamashita cut the deficit in the 48th minute with an impressive finish before Gatland put Kobe within 12 points of restoring parity.
Kobe’s replacement lock Waisake Raratubua, who is now eligible for Japan, claimed his second try of the campaign and the conversion left the visitors only five points behind with 14 minutes remaining.
Toshiba responded through Mori before the influential Saumaki also touched down for his second score.
Lafaele’s replacement Junta Hamano incredibly tied up the game in the 85th minute after sustained pressure from the visitors to give Gatland the chance to win the game.
The former Chiefs fly-half missed his conversion with the last kick of the game as the two title-chasing teams had to settle for a draw which was a fair reflection of a pulsating game and a wonderful advertisement for League One.
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